Here are 3 flies that will always be in our guides’ fly boxes.
Go on the fishing trip of your lifetime.
Golden-yellow fins with big, black eyes are the most striking features of an Indo-Pacific permit. Apart from that, they are well camouflaged on the backdrop of white sand, turtle grass or coral flats. Their body is a silver, almost mirror-like colour that reflects their habitat, making them nearly invisible to the untrained eye.
“Serious fly fishermen are all aware that catching a permit marks a personal epoch in the sport” – Thomas McGuane
Permit generally like to frequent and inhabit the same particular areas, which makes targeting them easier. The Alphonse guide team has certainly figured out the best spots to locate them throughout the various destinations! Each of the different atolls has their own unique style and approach when targeting permit. Rays act as magnets on the flats, pulling in several different types of fish species, and permit definitely falls into this category as they are often targeted and caught off rays.
Here are 3 flies that will always be in our guides’ fly boxes.
This fly has been revolutionary in terms of landing Permit! It is extremely realistic in size, colour and even texture. When targeting Permit, these are absolutely crucial to have in your box. A must-have in any Permit-enthusiast’s box.
available On Island
This fly imitates exactly what its name suggests i.e. a crab that is on the move. It is a simple pattern, but highly effective. It can be tied in various colours and sizes, however, the most common colour is barred tan and white with orange rubber legs.
available On Island
A nice, bright fly that draws the attention of a Permit from some distance away. It can be fished by either retrieving it along the bottom or mid-water column. The big eyes are a dominant feature, acting as a great trigger to attract and entice a Permit to eat it.
available On Island
Like all flats fishing, the tide plays a massive role when targeting these fish. Generally, the best time to attempt to target permit is over the Neap Tide cycle when the water movement is slower.
We believe this is because they can feed more comfortably, as opposed to Spring Tides when the water is moving faster over the flats causing a greater current, thus making it harder to feed as they look for morsels of food along the bottom.
After seeing your permit, your first task is to fire off a quick prayer to the fishing gods. Permit have not obtained the reputation of being the fish of a thousand casts, for no reason! These fish are extremely sensitive to their surroundings and spook more easily than any other fish.
Everything has to be perfect in order to land a permit.
Firstly, your approach has to be stealthy. Your cast has to be deadly accurate in terms of fly presentation, as anything too close will scare the fish and anything too far will not get a response from the fish at all. If a re-cast is needed, lifting the line off the water too vigorously will again make noise and inevitably result in a spooked fish.
All permit react differently to flies, mostly depending on their mood. Some need to be caressed into eating the fly by specific stripping techniques, others need a few casts or if possible, a fly change or two, while yet others need no enticing at all as they can very aggressively inhale the fly the moment they see it.
Once hooked, they fight right to the bitter end and often struggle to get into the net, so patience all the way through the fight is vital!
"They are like the golden trophies of fly fishing" - Keith Rose-Innes
A dream destination for any fly fisherman, Alphonse Atoll in Seychelles is renowned for its expansive sea flats, which provide easy wading and world-class fly fishing. The atolls are regarded as some of the most pristine, untouched islands in the world yet Alphonse Atoll is just a 60-minute flight from Mahé.
Cosmoledo Atoll is just a stone’s throw away from the world heritage site of Aldabra, often referred to as the Galapagos of the Indian Ocean.
Its ecosystem is pristine with saltwater flats and a huge variety of fish species, attracting fly fishermen from around the world. It is home to an eco-camp, dedicated to the atoll’s conservation.
The home of the biggest giant trevallies in the Indian Ocean, this island in the Seychelles offers superb fly fishing in a shallow lagoon surrounded by sheer drop-offs. Just over a thousand kilometres from Mahe, this atoll forms part of the remote Aldabra group of atolls. Uninhabited since 1969, this atoll has seen very little human presence which makes for a wild and unique experience.
Farquhar Atoll is the most southerly atoll in the Seychelles chain of islands lying just over 700km to the southwest of the main island Mahe. This remote atoll has a total area, including the large lagoon, of 170.5 km² which is 18 km north to south and 9 km east to west.
Turn your fly into a fish’s ultimate temptation. The Seychelles, with its 115 islands and deserted atolls, ideal weather and warm Indian Ocean waters, is renowned for being home to some of the world’s richest fishing grounds. You don’t even have to venture too far to break fishing records!
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